Though Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis) is less common in today’s apothecaries, it was one of Old World Europe’s most revered herbs. There are colloquialisms about it’s value and virtues from a variety of European cultures; from Spain, “He has as many virtues as Betony”, Italy, “Sell your coat and buy Betony,” and from colonial American herbalist John Sauer,“There is no illness brought by cold in which betony cannot be administered effectively."
